This easy and elegant tart showcases the bounty of summer gardens and farmers’ markets. The buttery, lemon-scented dough is assembled quickly in the food processor and can be made ahead of time. Gruyere cheese, sweet onions and fresh thyme are a savory compliment to the juicy heirloom tomatoes. Tart can be served warm or at room temperature.
Heirloom Tomato Tart
By Taylor
Makes 1 9×9 tart

Start by making the tart dough. In the bowl of a food processor, add flour, zest and salt. Process for about 20 seconds. Add the cold butter and process until it achieves a coarse meal consistency. Add heavy cream and 2 tablespoons of ice water. Pulse a few times. If the dough seems too dry add remaining water a tablespoon at a time pulsing after each addition. Process until a dough forms and begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. Remove from processor, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. You can make the dough the day before and let it refrigerate it overnight.

While tart dough is chilling, you can make the filling.

In a sauté pan, add the onion, salt, pepper, 2 tablespoons of butter, and the leaves from 4 sprigs of thyme. Cook over low heat for about 5 minutes. Add the cream and continue cooking over low for about 5 more minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

After the dough has chilled, preheat oven to 375°F. Roll out the dough and place in a 9×9-inch tart pan. Prick the bottom of the pan with the tines of a fork. Any extra dough can be frozen for another use.

Spread the cooled onion mixture in an even layer over the bottom of the dough-lined pan. Spread the grated cheese on top of the onion mixture.

Slice tomatoes into thin slices and arrange them in a style of your choosing on top of the cheese layer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Once the tomatoes are laid out, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and drizzle over top. Remove the leaves from the remaining sprigs of thyme and sprinkle over top of the tart.

Bake for 45-55 minutes until crust is golden brown and tomatoes are cooked to your liking. Let cool before serving.